Shielding assemblies for infusion systems

ABSTRACT

A shielding assembly for an infusion system includes a plurality of compartments and a door for each compartment, and provides a radioactive radiation barrier for the compartments. One of the compartments contains a radioisotope generator of the infusion system and another of the compartments may contain a waste bottle of the infusion system. An opening into each of the generator and waste bottle compartments may be oriented upward, and the opening into the latter may be at a higher elevation than the opening into the former, for example, to facilitate independent removal and replacement of each. A door of at least one of the compartments, other than the generator compartment, when closed, may prevent the door of the generator compartment from being opened. A cabinet structure for the infusion system may enclose the shielding assembly and secure the generator.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to the following commonly assignedutility patent applications, all of which are filed concurrentlyherewith and all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentireties: Ser. No. 12/137,363, entitled: INFUSION SYSTEMCONFIGURATIONS; Ser. No. 12/137,364, entitled: INFUSION SYSTEMSINCLUDING COMPUTER-FACILITATED MAINTENANCE AND/OR OPERATION; and Ser.No. 12/137,377, entitled: CABINET STRUCTURES SUPPORTING INFUSIONSYSTEMS.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention pertains to systems that generate and infuseradiopharmaceuticals, and, more particularly, to shielding assembliesthereof.

BACKGROUND

Nuclear medicine employs radioactive material for therapy and diagnosticimaging. Positron emission tomography (PET) is one type of diagnosticimaging, which utilizes doses of radiopharmaceutical, for example,generated by elution within a radioisotope generator that are injected,or infused into a patient. The infused dose of radiopharmaceutical isabsorbed by cells of a target organ, of the patient, and emitsradiation, which is detected by a PET scanner, in order to generate animage of the organ. An example of a radioactive isotope, which may beused for PET, is Rubidium-82 (produced by the decay of Strontium-82);and an example of a radioisotope generator, which yields a salinesolution of Rubidium-82, via elution, is the CardioGen-82® availablefrom Bracco Diagnostics Inc. (Princeton, N.J.).

Whether the half-life of a particular radioactive isotope, employed by aradiopharmaceutical, is relatively short or long, a patient undergoing anuclear imaging procedure is not typically exposed to a significantamount of radiation. However those personnel, whose job it is to set upand maintain radiopharmaceutical infusion systems, and to administerdoses therefrom, are subject to more frequent exposures to radiation.Therefore, shielding assemblies, which provide a radiation barrier toprotect these personnel from excessive exposure to radiation sources,are an important component of radiopharmaceutical generators andinfusion systems. These shielding assemblies are typically formed withlead sidewalls, the bulk and weight of which can pose difficulties forthe personnel who regularly set up, maintain and use the systems. Thus,there is a need for improved shielding assemblies employed by systemsthat generate and infuse radiopharmaceuticals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings are illustrative of particular embodiments of thepresent invention and therefore do not limit the scope of the invention.The drawings are not to scale (unless so stated) and are intended foruse in conjunction with the explanations in the following detaileddescription. Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter bedescribed in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein likenumerals denote like elements.

FIG. 1A is a first perspective view of an infusion system, according tosome embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is another perspective view of a portion of a cabinet structureof the system shown in FIG. 1A, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 1C is a second perspective view of the system shown in FIG. 1A,according to some embodiments.

FIG. 1D is a schematic of an infusion circuit, according to someembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a shielding assembly for an infusionsystem, such as that shown in FIGS. 1A-C, according to some embodimentsof the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a framework of the system, according tosome embodiments, with an enlarged detailed view of a component of thesystem, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 3A is another perspective view of the shielding assembly shown inFIG. 2A.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the infusion circuit, shown in FIG. 1C,configured and routed, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 3C is a perspective view of a disposable infusion circuitsubassembly, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 3D is a frame for the subassembly shown in FIG. 3C, according tosome embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a main menu screen shot from an interface of a computer, whichmay be included in systems of the present invention, according to someembodiments.

FIG. 5A is a schematic showing a first group of successive screen shotsfrom the computer interface, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 5B is a pair of screen shots from the computer interface, whichprovide indications related to eluant volume levels in a reservoir ofthe system, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 5C is a schematic showing a second group of successive screen shotsfrom the computer interface, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a schematic showing a third group of successive screen shotsfrom the computer interface, according to some embodiments.

FIGS. 7A-C are schematics showing a fourth group of successive screenshots from the computer interface, according to some embodiments.

FIGS. 8A-B are schematics showing a fifth group of successive screenshots from the computer interface, according to some embodiments.

FIGS. 9A-C are schematics showing a sixth group of successive screenshots from the computer interface, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a schematic showing a seventh group of successive screenshots from the computer interface, according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is exemplary in nature and is notintended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of theinvention in any way. Rather, the following description providespractical illustrations for implementing exemplary embodiments.Utilizing the teaching provided herein, those skilled in the art willrecognize that many of the examples have suitable alternatives that canbe utilized.

FIG. 1A is a first perspective view of an infusion system 10, accordingto some embodiments of the present invention, wherein system 10 is shownsupported by a cabinet structure, which includes a platform 113 (seenbetter in FIG. 2B) and a shell 13; shell 13 extends upward from a skirt11, that surrounds platform 113, to surrounds an interior space in whicha portion of infusion system 10 is contained (—seen in FIG. 1C). Shellmay be formed from panels of injection-molded polyurethane fittedtogether according to methods known to those skilled in the art. FIG. 1Aillustrates the cabinet structure of system 10 including a grip orhandle 14, which extends laterally from shell 13, in proximity to anupper surface 131 thereof, and a post 142, which extends upward fromshell 13, and to which a work surface, or tray 16 and a computer 17 are,preferably, attached, via an ergonomic, positionable mount. According tosome embodiments, computer 17 is coupled to a controller of system 10,which is mounted within the interior space surrounded by shell 13, and amonitor 172 of computer 17 not only displays indications of systemoperation for a user of system 10, but also serves as a device for userinput (e.g. touch screen input). However, according to alternateembodiments, another type of user input device, known to those skilledin the art, may be employed by computer 17. Other types of user inputdevices may included, for example, a keyboard, a series of controlbuttons or levers, a barcode reader (or other reader of encodedinformation), a scanner, a computer readable medium containing pertinentdata, etc. The user input device may be mounted on the cabinet structureof system 10, as shown, or may be tethered thereto; alternatively theuser input device may be remote from system 10, for example, located ina separate control room. According to some additional embodiments,another user input device, for example, in addition to a touch screen ofcomputer 17, may be remote from system 10 and used to start and stopinfusions. Operation of system 10, which is facilitated by computer 17,will be described below, in conjunction with FIGS. 4-9C.

FIG. 1A further illustrates two pairs of wheels 121, 122, mounted to anunderside of platform 113, to make system 10 mobile; handle 14 is shownlocated at an elevation suitable for a person to grasp in order tomaneuver system 10, from one location for another, upon pairs of wheels121, 122. According to some preferred embodiments, one or both pairs ofwheels 121, 122, are casters, allowing for rotation in a horizontalplane (swivel), in order to provide additional flexibility formaneuvering system 10 in relatively tight spaces.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a portion of system 10, on a side 111of the cabinet structure, which is in proximity to wheels 121. FIG. 1Billustrates a lever or pedal 125, which is located for activation by afoot of the person, who grasps handle 14 to maneuver system 10. In aneutral position, pedal 125 allows wheels 121, 122 to rotate, and, ifembodied as casters, to swivel freely. Pedal 125 may be depressed to afirst position which prevents a swiveling of wheels 122, according tothose embodiments in which wheels 122 are casters, and may be furtherdepressed to brake wheels 121, 122 from rolling and swiveling, uponreaching a desired location. FIG. 1B further illustrates a rear accesspanel 174, for example, providing access to circuit boards of theaforementioned controller contained within the interior space surroundedshell 13, an optional lock 184, to secure panel 174, a power jack 118,for connecting system 10 to a power source, and a printer 117 forproviding documentation of each patient infusion carried out by system10, and of system quality control test results. In some embodiments,system 10 may further include one or more additional connectors, orports (not shown), which allow system 10 to be coupled to, forcommunication with, other devices used for nuclear imaging procedures.

FIG. 1A further illustrates upper surface 131 of shell 13 includingseveral openings 133, 135, 139 formed therein. FIG. 1C is a partiallyexploded perspective view of system 10, wherein a removable access panel132 is shown as a contoured portion of upper surface 131, which, whenexposed, by lifting away a bin 18, that mates therewith, may be removedfrom another opening 137 formed in upper surface 131. FIG. 1C alsoprovides a better view of another panel 134 which may be lifted awayfrom opening 139. According to the illustrated embodiment, openings 139and 137 provide a user of system 10 with independent access to separateportions of infusion system 10, which are contained within shell 13, forexample, to set up and maintain system 10; and openings 133 and 135provide passageways for tubing lines to pass through shell 13. FIG. 1Cfurther illustrates an optional switch 102, which in case of anemergency, may be activated to abort function of system 10. Withreference to FIGS. 1A and 1C, it may be appreciated that an arrangementof features formed in upper surface 131 of shell 13, in conjunction withbin 18, tray 16 and computer 17, provide a relatively ergonomic andorganized work area for technical personnel who operate system 10.

Turning now to FIG. 1D, a schematic of an infusion circuit 300, whichmay be incorporated by system 10, is shown. FIG. 1D illustrates circuit300 generally divided into a first part 300A, which includes componentsmounted outside shell 13, and a second part 300B, which includescomponents mounted within the interior space surrounded by shell 13.(Parts 300A and 300B are delineated by dotted lines in FIG. 1D.) FIG. 1Dfurther illustrates second part 300B of circuit 300 including a portioncontained within a shielding assembly 200, which is designatedschematically as a dashed line. Some embodiments of shielding assembly200 will be described in greater detail, in conjunction with FIGS. 2A-Band 3A-B, below.

According to the illustrated embodiment, circuit 300 includes an eluantreservoir 15, for example, a bag, bottle or other container, containingsaline as the eluant, which is shown hanging from a post, or hanger 141above upper surface 131 of shell 13 in FIG. 1A; a syringe pump 33, forpumping the eluant from reservoir 15, and a pressure syringe 34, formonitoring pumping pressure; a filter 37, which may also serve as abubble trap, for the pumped eluant; a radioisotope generator 21, throughwhich the filtered eluant is pumped to create a radioactive eluate, forexample an eluate carrying Rubidium-82 that is generated by the decay ofStrontium-82, via elution, within a column of generator 21; and anactivity detector 25, for measuring the activity of the eluatedischarged from generator 21, in order to provide feedback for directingthe flow of the eluate, via a divergence valve 35WP, either to a wastebottle 23 or through a patient line 305 p, for example, to inject a doseof the radiopharmaceutical eluate into a patient. With reference back toFIG. 1A, patient line 305 p is shown extending out from shell 13,through opening 135, to a distal end thereof, which, according to someembodiments, includes a filter. Patient line 305 p may be coupled toanother line that includes a patient injection needle (not shown).Alternatively, patient line 305 p may be coupled to another line (notshown), which extends from a source of another active substance, forexample, a stress agent; the other line is coupled to the line thatincludes the patient injection needle, in order to permit injection ofthe additional active substance. FIG. 1D illustrates an eluant tubingline 301 coupled to reservoir 15 and to pump 33, and, with reference toFIGS. 1A-B, it may be appreciated that opening 133 provides thepassageway for tubing line 301 to enter the interior space surrounded byshell 13. According to some preferred embodiments, opening 133 includesa grommet-type seal that prevents leakage of eluant, which may spillfrom reservoir 15, into the interior space through opening 133, whileallowing a user to assemble tubing line 301 through opening 133.Likewise opening 135, which provides a passageway for patient line 305p, may include a grommet-type seal.

FIG. 1D further illustrates another eluant tubing line 302 coupled topump 33 and a divergence valve 35BG, which may either direct pumpedeluant through a tubing line 304, to generator 21, or direct the pumpedeluant through a by-pass tubing line 303, directly to patient line 305p. Divergence valve 35BG, as well as divergence valve 35WP, whichdirects eluate from an eluate tubing line 305 either to a waste line 305w or to patient line 305 p, may each be automatically operated by acorresponding servomotor (not shown), coupled to the controller (notshown) of system 10, which controller receives feedback from activitydetector 25. When system 10 is operating for automatic infusion, todeliver a dose of radiopharmaceutical to a patient, for example,Rubidium-82 for diagnostic imaging, divergence valve 35BG is initiallyset to direct eluant to generator 21 and divergence valve 35WP is set todirect eluate from generator into waste bottle 23, until activitydetector 25 detects the desired activity of the eluate, at which timethe feedback from activity detector 25 causes the controller to directthe corresponding servo-motor to re-set valve 35WP for diverting theflow of eluate into patient line 305 p. According to some embodiments,once a prescribed volume of the eluate has passed through patient line305 p, the controller directs the corresponding servomotor to re-setdivergence valve 35BG for diverting the flow of eluant through by-passline 303 and into patient line 305 p in order to flush, or push anyeluate remaining in patient line 305 p into the patient. According tosome embodiments, the controller may also direct the correspondingservomotor to re-set divergence valve 35WP back toward waste bottle 23,prior to the flush through by-pass line 303, in order to prevent backflow of eluant, through line 305, toward generator 21.

With further reference to FIG. 1D, it may be appreciated that shieldingassembly 200 encloses those portions of circuit 300 from whichradioactive radiation may emanate, with the exception of that portion ofpatient line 305 p, which must extend out from shielding assembly 200 inorder to be coupled to the patient for injection, or in order to becoupled to shielded sample vials, as will be described below. Thus,technical personnel, who operate system 10, are protected from radiationby shielding assembly 200, except at those times when an infusion istaking place, or when quality control tests require collection of eluateinto sample vials. During infusions and quality control test samplecollection, all technical personnel are typically in another room, orotherwise distanced from system 10, in order to avoid exposure toradiation during the infusion, and, according to some preferredembodiments of the present invention, system 10 includes at least onemeans for informing technical personnel that an infusion is about totake place or is taking place. With reference back to FIGS. 1A and 1C,system 10 is shown including a light projector 100, mounted on post 142.According to the illustrated embodiment, projector 100, projects a lightsignal upward, for maximum visibility, when pump 33 is pumping eluantand elution is taking place within generator 21, or at all times whenpump 33 is pumping eluant. According to some embodiments, the lightsignal flashes on and off when the eluate is being diverted fromgenerator 21 into waste bottle 23, and the light signal shines steadilywhen the eluate is being diverted through patient line 305 p, or visaversa. According to other embodiments, a projector 100 shines a lighthaving a first color, to indicate that eluate is being diverted to wastebottle 23, and then shines a light having a second, different color, toindicate that eluate is being directed to patient line 305 p forinfusion. Light projector 100 may further project a more rapidlyflashing light, for example, for approximately five seconds, once a peakbolus of radioactivity is detected in the eluate, to provide furtherinformation to technical personnel. Alternative means of informingtechnical personnel that an infusion is taking place may also beincorporated by system 10, for example, including audible alarms orother types of visible or readable signals that are apparent at adistance from system, including in the control room.

When maintenance of system 10 requires the emptying waste bottle 23,relatively easy access to waste bottle 23 is provided through opening139 in top surface 131 of shell 13. It should be noted that technicalpersonnel are preferably trained to empty waste bottle 23 at times whenthe eluate, contained in waste bottle 23, has decayed sufficiently toensure that the radioactivity thereof has fallen below a threshold to besafe. Opening 139 is preferably located at an elevation of betweenapproximately 2 feet and approximately 3 feet; for example, opening 139may be at an elevation of approximately 24 inches, with respect to alower surface of platform 113, or at an elevation of approximately 32inches, with respect to a ground surface upon which wheels 121, 122rest. According to the illustrated embodiment, opening 139 is accessedby lifting panel 134; just within opening 139, a shielded lid or door223 (FIG. 2A) may be lifted away from a compartment of shieldingassembly 200 that contains waste bottle 23. With further reference toFIG. 1C, it may be appreciated that opening 137 provides access to otherportions of circuit 300 for additional maintenance procedures, such aschanging out generator 21 and/or other components of circuit 300, aswill be described below.

FIGS. 1A and 1C further illustrate a pair of relatively shallow externalrecesses 190, which are formed in upper surface 131 of shell 13, forexample, in order to catch any spills from infusion system; one ofrecesses 190 is shown located in proximity to post, or hanger 141, whichholds reservoir 15, and in proximity to opening 133, through whichtubing line 301 passes. Another recess 192 is shown formed in uppersurface 131; a width and depth of recess 192 may accommodate storage oftechnical documentation associated with infusion system 10, for example,a technical manual and/or maintenance records, or printouts from printer117 (FIG. 1B). With reference to FIG. 1C, upper surface 131 of shell 13is shown to also include additional recesses 101, which are each sizedto hold a shielded test vial, which contains samples from infusionsystem 10, for example, for breakthrough testing and/or calibration,which will be described in greater detail, below. Additional receptacles180 are shown formed in bin 18, on either side of a handle 182, whichfacilitates removal of bin 18 away from shell 13. Technical personnelmay, thus, conveniently transport bin 18 to a storage area for acollection of supplies, for example, sharps, gloves, tubing lines, etc.. . . , into one or more receptacles 180 thereof, and/or to a wastecontainer where separate receptacles 180 of bin 18 may be emptied ofwaste, such as packaging for the aforementioned supplies, for example,deposited therein during infusion procedures.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of shielding assembly 200, according tosome embodiments of the present invention. With reference to FIGS. 1Cand 2A, together, it may be appreciated that opening 137, in uppersurface 131 of shell 13, provides access to a lid or door 221 of asidewall 201 of shielding assembly 200, which sidewall 201 encloses acompartment sized to contain a radioisotope generator of system 10, forexample, generator 21, previously introduced. According to theillustrated embodiment, opening 137 and door 221 are located at a lowerelevation, for example, with respect to platform 113, than are opening139 and lid 223, which provide access to the compartment being formed bya sidewall 203 of shielding assembly 200 to contain waste bottle 23, aspreviously described. When panel 132 is separated from shell 13, anddoor 221 opened, generator 21 may be lifted out from an opening 231(FIG. 3A) which mates with door 221 of sidewall 201. A weight ofgenerator 21, which includes its own shielding, may be betweenapproximately 23 and approximately 25 pounds, thus, according to somepreferred embodiments of the present invention, the elevation of each ofopenings 137 and 231, with respect to the lowermost portion of thecabinet structure, is between approximately 1 foot and approximately 2feet, in order to facilitate an ergonomic stance for technical personnelto lift generator 21 out from the compartment. According to an exemplaryembodiment, when shielding assembly 200 is contained in the cabinetstructure of FIG. 1A, openings 137 and 231 are located at an elevationof approximately 12 inches, with respect to the lower surface ofplatform 113, or at an elevation of approximately 19 inches, withrespect to the ground surface upon which wheels 121, 122 rest. FIG. 1Cfurther illustrates access panel 132 including a security lock 138,which mates with a framework 19 of system 10, shown in FIG. 2B, in orderto limit access to generator 21.

FIGS. 1C and 2A further illustrate a lid or a door 225 of anothersidewall 205 (FIG. 3A) of shielding assembly 200, which encloses anothercompartment that is accessible through opening 137 of shell 13, andwhich is located adjacent the compartment enclosed by sidewall 201. Eachof doors 221, 225 are shown being attached by a corresponding hinge H,and another door 227 is shown attached to sidewall 203 by another hingeH. FIG. 2A illustrates each of lid 223 and doors 221, 225, 227 includinga handle 232, 212, 252 and 272, respectively, for moving lid 223 anddoors 221, 225, 227, in order to provide access to the correspondingcompartments, which can be seen in FIGS. 3A-B. FIG. 2A furtherillustrates optional thumb screws 290, one securing lid 223 to sidewall203 and another securing door 221 to sidewall 201, or other means forsecuring the doors, which are known to those skilled in the art, may beincorporated. Each sidewall 201, 203, 205 and the corresponding lid/door223, 221, 225, 227 thereof may be individually cast from 3% antimonylead, or from other known shielding materials, and then assembledtogether according to methods known to those skilled in the art.

According to the illustrated embodiment, doors 221, 225 are hinged toopen in an upward direction, per arrows D and C, and, with referenceback to FIG. 1C, a latch component 191 is provided to hold each of doors221, 225 in an opened position, thereby, preventing doors 221, 225 fromfalling closed, which could pinch/crush fingers of technical personneland/or tubing lines of circuit 300, when in the midst of a maintenanceprocedure. FIG. 2B is a perspective view of framework 19 of the cabinetstructure of system 10, according to some embodiments, to which latchcomponent 191 is mounted; FIG. 2B includes an enlarged detailed view oflatch component 191, according to some embodiments. FIG. 2B illustrateslatch component 191 including a first pin 193, corresponding to door225, and a second pin 195, corresponding to door 221; each pin 193, 195includes a lever end 193A, 193B, respectively, and a holding end 193B,195B, respectively. An edge of each door 221, 225, upon opening of doors221, 225, may push past the holding end 195B, 193B of the correspondingpin 195, 193, in a first direction, per arrow F, and then may restagainst a respective side S95 and S93 of each end 195B, 193B, until thecorresponding lever end 195A, 193A is rotated in a counter-clockwisedirection, per arrow cc, thereby moving the corresponding holding end193B, 195B to make way for the closing of doors 221, 225. Doors 221, 225being held by latch component 191 in an open position may be seen inFIG. 3A.

With further reference to FIG. 2A, according to some preferredembodiments of the present invention, an edge of door 225 overlaps door221 to prevent door 221 from being opened, per arrow D, if door 225 isnot opened, per arrow C; and an edge of door 227 overlaps an edge ofdoor 225 to prevent door 225 from being opened if door 227 is notopened, per arrow B; and an edge of lid 223 overlaps door 227 to preventdoor 227 from being opened if lid 223 is not opened, per arrow A. Thus,access to the compartment enclosed by sidewall 201 and containinggenerator 21 is only systematically allowed through a sequential openingof lid 223 and doors 227, 225, 221, since, when generator 21 is replacedit is typically desirable to also replace those portions of circuit 300which are shielded behind lid 223 and doors 227, 225. The routing ofthese portions of circuit 300 will be described in conjunction withFIGS. 3A-C.

FIG. 3A is another perspective view of shielding assembly 200, accordingto some embodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 3A, lid 223 anddoors 221, 225, and 227 are opened to provide a view into openings 233,235 and 231 of sidewalls 203, 205 and 201, respectively, and into apassageway 207, which is formed in sidewall 203, opposite thecompartment, which contains waste bottle 23. Passageway 207 is shownextending vertically along sidewall 203 and having a grooved extension213 formed in a perimeter surface of opening 233. An optional retainingmember 237, for example, formed from an elongate strip of resilientplastic having a generally c-shape cross-section, is shown being mountedalong a length of passageway 207 to hold lines 305 w and 305 p in placewithin passageway 207. FIG. 3A further illustrates a pair of passageways251 b and 251 g, which are formed as grooves in a portion of sidewall205, and another pair of passageways 215 i and 215 o, which are formedas grooves in a portion of sidewall 201. A routing of portions of tubingcircuit 300 (FIG. 1D) through passageways 207, 251 b, 251 c, 215 i and215 o is shown in FIG. 3B.

FIG. 3B illustrates tubing line 304 being routed through passageways 251g and 215 i, eluate tubing line 305 being routed through passageway 215o, and both waste line 305 w and patient line 305 p being routed alongpassageway 207. Waste line 305 w further extends through groovedextension 213 to waste bottle 23, and patient line 305 p further extendsoutward from shielding assembly 200, for example, to extend out throughopening 135 in upper surface 131 of shell 13 (FIG. 1A). According to theillustrated embodiment, each passageway formed in shielding assembly200, by being accessible along a length thereof, can facilitate arelatively easy routing of the corresponding tubing line therethrough,when the corresponding lid/door is open, and a depth of each passagewayprevents pinching and/or crushing of the corresponding tubing linerouted therethrough, when the corresponding lid/door is closed downthereover.

FIG. 3A further illustrates sidewall 205 including a valve actuatorreceptacle 253, into which divergence valve 35WP is mounted, to becontrolled by one of the servomotors (not shown) of system 10, and anopening 325 for activity detector 25. Activity detector 25 is mounted ina shielded well 255 that extends downward from opening 325 (shown inFIG. 3B), and, with reference to FIG. 3B, tubing line 305 passes overopening 325 so that detector 25 can detect an activity of the eluate,which passes therethrough. According to some embodiments, thepositioning, within the compartment enclosed by sidewall 205, of thecomponents of the portion of infusion circuit 300 which are shown routedtherein, is facilitated by providing the components mounted in a frame39 as a disposable subassembly 390, an embodiment of which isillustrated by FIGS. 3C-D.

FIG. 3C is a perspective view of subassembly 390, and FIG. 3D is aperspective view of frame 39. According to the embodiment illustrated byFIG. 3D, frame 39 is formed from mating trays 39A, 39B, for example,formed from a thermoformed plastic, which fit together to capture,therebetween, and hold, in fixed relation to a perimeter edge of frame39, divergence valve 35WP and portions of eluant tubing line 304,by-pass tubing line 303, eluate tubing line 305, waste line 305 w andpatient line 305 p. FIG. 3C illustrates the perimeter edge divided intoa first side 391, a second side 392, opposite first side 391, a thirdside 393, extending between first and second sides 391, 392, and afourth side 394, opposite third side 393. Although FIG. 3D shows trays39A, 39B individually formed for fitting together, according toalternate embodiments, mating trays of frame 39 may be parts of acontinuous sheet of plastic folded over on itself.

According to the illustrated embodiment, an end 404A, of eluant line304, and an end 403, of by-pass line 303 extend from third side 393 offrame 39 to couple with divergence valve 35BG and an upstream section ofeluant tubing line 302. FIG. 3C further illustrates an opposite end 404Bof eluant line extending from first side 391 of frame 39, alongside asimilarly extending end 405 of eluate line 305, and ends 406 and 407 ofpatient line 305 p and waste line 305 w, respectively, extending fromsecond side 392 of frame 39. Although ends 406, 407 are shown extendingupward from tray 39 a, as they would within shielding assembly 200, itshould be appreciated that the tubing lines of circuit 300 arepreferably flexible and would drop down under their own weight ratherthan extending upward, as shown, if not supported. Referring back toFIG. 1D, in conjunction with FIG. 3C, it can be seen that fittings areprovided for coupling subassembly 390 into circuit 300: a first fitting311 couples the section of eluant line 302 to filter 37; a secondfitting 312 couples eluant line 304 to an inlet port of generator 21; athird fitting 313, which may incorporate a check valve, couples eluateline 305 to an outlet port of generator 21; a fourth fitting 314 coupleswaste line 305 w to waste bottle 23; and a fifth fitting 315 couplespatient line 305 p to an extension thereof, which extends outside shell13 (designated by the dotted line). Each of the fittings 311, 312, 313,314, 315 may be of the Luer type, or any other suitable type that isknown to those skilled in the art.

As previously mentioned, when generator 21 is replaced, it is typicallydesirable to also replace those portions of circuit 300 which areshielded behind lid 223 and doors 227, 225, and, in those instanceswherein system 10 is moved to a new site each day, these portions may bereplaced daily. Thus, according to the illustrated embodiment, theseportions are conveniently held together by frame 39, as subassembly 390,in order to facilitate relatively speedy removal and replacement, whileassuring a proper assembly orientation, via registration with featuresformed in sidewall 205 (FIG. 3A), for example: registration ofdivergence valve 35WP with valve actuator receptacle 253, registrationof tubing line ends 403 and 404A with passageways 251 b and 251 g,respectively, registration of tubing line ends 404B and 405 withpassageways 215 i and 215 o, respectively, and registration of tubingline ends 406 and 407 with passageway 207.

With further reference to FIG. 3B, other portions of tubing circuit 300are shown. FIG. 3B illustrates eluant tubing line 301 extending fromreservoir 15, outside of shell 13 (FIG. 1A), to syringe pump 33, whichis mounted to an actuating platform 433. According to the illustratedembodiment, platform 433 is actuated by another servomotor (not shown)of system 10, which is controlled by the controller and computer 17 ofsystem 10, to cause a plunger of pump 33 to move, per arrow I, so as todraw in eluant, from reservoir 15, through tubing line 301, and then tocause the plunger to move in the opposite direction so as to pump theeluant, through tubing line 302, to either generator 21 or to by-passline 303. Although the illustrated embodiment includes syringe pump 33,other suitable pumps, known to those skilled in the art, may besubstituted for pump 33, in order to draw eluant from reservoir 15 andto pump the eluant throughout circuit 300. Although not shown, it shouldbe appreciated that divergence valve 35BG is fitted into another valveactuating receptacle mounted within shell 13 and coupled to yet anotherservomotor (not shown) of system 10.

FIG. 3B further illustrates a filter holder 317 that is mountedalongside an interior surface of shell 13 to hold filter 37 (FIG. 1D) oftubing line 302. Filter holder 317, like frame 39 for subassembly 390,may be formed from a thermoformed plastic sheet; holder 317 may have aclam-shell structure to enclose filter 37 in an interior space, yetallow tubing line 302, on either side of filter 37, to extend out fromthe interior space, in between opposing sides of the clam-shellstructure. Holder 317 is shown including an appendage 307 for hangingholder 317 from a structure (not shown) inside shell 13.

Turning now to FIGS. 4-9C details concerning computer-facilitatedoperation of system 10 will be described, according to some embodimentsof the present invention. As previously mentioned, and with referenceback to FIG. 1A, computer 17 of system 10 includes monitor 172, which,preferably, not only displays indications of system operation to informa user of system 10, but is also configured as a touch screen to receiveinput from the user. It should be understood that computer 17 is coupledto the controller of system 10, which may be mounted within the interiorspace surrounded by shell 13. Although FIG. 1A shows computer 17 mountedto post 142 of system 10, for direct hardwiring to the controller ofsystem 10, according to some alternate embodiments, computer 17 iscoupled to the controller via a flexible lead that allows computer 17 tobe positioned somewhat remotely from those portions of system 10, fromwhich radioactive radiation may emanate; or, according to some otherembodiments, computer 17 is wirelessly coupled, for example, via two-waytelemetry, to the controller of system 10, for even greater flexibilityin positioning computer 17 away from radioactive radiation.

According to some preferred embodiments, computer 17 is pre-programmedto guide the user, via monitor 172, through procedures necessary tomaintain system 10, to perform quality control tests on system 10, andto operate system 10 for patient infusions, as well as to interact withthe user, via the touch-screen capability of monitor 172, according topreferred embodiments, in order to track volumes of eluant and eluatecontained within system 10, to track a time from completion of eachelution performed by system 10, to calculate one or more systemparameters for the quality control tests, and to perform various dataoperations. It should be understood that screen shots shown in FIGS.4-9C are exemplary in nature and are presented to provide an outline ofsome methods of the present invention in which computer 17 facilitatesthe aforementioned procedures, without limiting the scope of theinvention to any particular computer interface format.

FIG. 4 is a screen shot of a main menu 470, which is presented bycomputer 17 on monitor 172, according to some embodiments. Main menu 470includes a listing of each computer-facilitated operation that may beselected by the user, once the user has logged on.

FIG. 5A is a schematic showing a series of screen shots which includes alog in screen 570. After the user enters the appropriate informationinto data entry fields of log in screen 570, computer 17 presents arequest for the user to confirm the volume of eluant that is withinreservoir 15 (e.g. saline in saline bag), via a screen 571, and thenbrings up main menu 470. According to some embodiments, when the usertouch-selects the data entry fields of screen 570 or 571, or of any ofthe other screens presented herein, below, a virtual keyboard isdisplayed for touch-select data entry into the selected data entryfield; alternately, computer 17 may be augmented with another type ofdevice for user data entry, examples of which include, withoutlimitation, a peripheral keyboard device, a storage medium (i.e. disk)reader, a scanner, a barcode reader (or other reader of encodedinformation), a hand control (i.e. mouse, joy stick, etc. . . . ).

If the user determines that the volume of eluant/saline is insufficient,the user selects a menu item 573, to replace the saline bag, which leadscomputer 17 to prompt the user to enter a quantity of saline containedby the new saline bag, via a screen 574. Thus, computer 17 uses eitherthe confirmed eluant/saline volume, via screen 571, or the newly enteredeluant/saline volume, via screen 574, as a baseline from which to trackdepletion of reservoir volume, via activations of pump 33, in theoperation of system 10. With reference to FIG. 5B, during the operationof system 10, when computer 17 detects that the eluant reservoir/salinebag has been depleted to a predetermined volume threshold, computer 17warns the user, via a screen 577. If the user has disregarded screen 577and continues to deplete the saline bag, computer 17 detects when thesaline bag is empty and provides indication of the same to the user, viaa screen 578. To replenish the reservoir/saline bag, the user may eitherrefill the reservoir/bag or replace the empty reservoir/bag with a fullreservoir/bag. According to some embodiments, system 10 automaticallyprecludes any further operation of the system until the reservoir isreplenished.

In addition to tracking the volume of eluant in reservoir 15, computer17 also tracks a volume of the eluate which is discharged from generator21 into waste bottle 23. With reference to FIG. 5C, an item 583 isprovided in main menu 470, to be selected by the user when the userempties waste bottle 23. When the user selects item 583, computer 17presents a screen 584, by which the user may effectively commandcomputer 17 to set a waste bottle level indicator to zero, once the userhas emptied waste bottle 23. Typically, the user, when powering upsystem 10 for operation, each day, will either empty waste bottle 23, orconfirm that waste bottle 23 was emptied at the end of operation theprevious day, and utilize screen 584 to set the waste bottle levelindicator to zero. Thus, computer 17, can track the filling of wastebottle 23 via monitoring of the operation of pump 33 and divergencevalve 35WP, and provide an indication to the user when waste bottle 23needs to be emptied, for example, via presentation of screen 584, inorder to warn the user that, unless emptied, the waste bottle willoverflow. According to some embodiments, system 10 automaticallyprecludes any further operation of the system until the waste bottle isemptied.

In addition to the above maintenance steps related to eluant and eluatevolumes of system 10, the user of system 10 will typically performquality control tests each day, prior to any patient infusions. Withreference to FIG. 6, according to preferred methods, prior to performingthe quality control tests (outlined in conjunction with FIGS. 7A-C and8A-B), the user may select an item 675 from main menu 470, in order todirect system 10 to wash the column of generator 21. During thegenerator column wash, which is performed by pumping a predeterminedvolume of eluant, for example, approximately 50 milliliters, throughgenerator 21 and into waste bottle 23, computer 17 provides anindication, via a screen 676, that the wash is in progress. Also, duringthe generator column wash, the system may provide a signal to indicatethat eluate it being diverted to waste bottle 23, for example, lightprojector 100 (FIG. 1C) may project a flashing light signal, aspreviously described.

FIG. 6 further illustrates a screen 677, which is presented by computer17 upon completion of the column wash, and which provides an indicationof a time lapse since the completion of the wash, in terms of a timecountdown, until a subsequent elution process may be effectively carriedout. While screen 677 is displayed, system 10 may be refilling, fromreservoir 15, pump 33, which has a capacity of approximately 55milliliters, according to some embodiments. According to some preferredembodiments of the present invention, computer 17 starts a timer onceany elution process is completed and informs the user of the time lapse,either in terms of the time countdown (screen 677), or in terms of atime from completion of the elution, for example, as will be describedin conjunction with FIG. 7B. According to an exemplary embodiment,wherein generator 21 is the CardioGen-82® that yields a saline solutionof Rubidium-82, produced by the decay of Strontium-82, via the elution,a time required between two effective elution processes is approximately10 minutes.

Once the appropriate amount of time has lapsed, after the elutionprocess of generator column wash, a first quality control test may beperformed. With reference to FIG. 7A, the user may select, from mainmenu 470, an item 773A, which directs computer 17 to begin a sequencefor breakthrough testing. In conjunction with the selection of item773A, the user attaches a needle to an end of patient line 305 p andinserts the needle into to a test vial, for the collection of an eluatesample therefrom, and, according to FIG. 7A, computer 17 presents ascreen 774, which instructs the user to insert the test vial into a vialshield, which may be held in recess 101 of shell 13 (FIG. 1C).

FIG. 7A further illustrates a subsequent screen 775, by which computer17 receives input, from the user, for system 10 to start thebreakthrough elution, followed by a screen 776, which provides both anindication that the elution is in progress and an option for the user toabort the elution. As previously described, the system may provide asignal to indicate that elution is in progress, for example, lightprojector 100 (FIG. 1C) may project a flashing light signal during thatportion of the elution process when eluate is diverted from generator 21through waste line 305 w and into waste bottle 23, and then a steadylight signal during that portion of the elution process when the eluateis diverted from generator 21 through patient line 305 p and into thetest vial, for example, once activity detector 25 detects a dose rate ofapproximately 1.0 mCi/sec in the eluate discharged from generator 21.Another type of light signal, for example, the more rapidly flashinglight, as previously described, may be projected when a peak bolus ofradioactivity is detected in the eluate.

Upon completion of the elution process for breakthrough testing,computer 17 presents a screen 777, shown in FIG. 7B, which, like screen677, provides an indication of a time lapse since the completion of theelution, but now in terms of a time since completion of the breakthroughelution process. When the user transfers the vial containing the sampleof eluate into a dose calibrator, to measure the activity of the sample,the user may make a note of the time lapse indicated on screen 777. Withfurther reference to FIG. 7B, once the user has received the activitymeasure from the dose calibrator, the user proceeds to a screen 778,which includes data entry fields for the activity measure and the timebetween that at which the dose calibrator measured the activity of thesample and that at which the elution was completed. The user may enterthe data via the touch-screen interface of monitor 172, or via any ofthe other aforementioned devices for user data entry. According to somealternate embodiments, computer 17 may receive the data, electronically,from the dose calibrator, either via wireless communication or a cableconnection.

After the data is entered by the user, computer 17 presents screen 779,from which the user moves back to main menu 470 to perform a systemcalibration, for example, as will be described in conjunction with FIGS.8A-B, although the breakthrough testing is not completed. With referenceback to FIG. 7A, an item 773B is shown, somewhat faded, in main menu470; item 773B may only be effectively selected following the completionof steps for item 773A, so as to perform a second stage of breakthroughtesting. In the second stage, the breakthrough of the sample of eluatecollected in the test vial for the breakthrough testing is measured, ata time of approximately 60 minutes from the completion of the elutionthat produced the sample. With reference to FIG. 7C, after the user hasselected item 773B from main menu 470, in order to direct computer 17 toprovide breakthrough test results, a screen 781 is displayed. Screen 781includes, for reference, the values previously entered by the user inscreen 778, along with another pair of data entry fields into which theuser is instructed to enter the breakthrough reading of the sample at 60minutes and the background radiation reading, respectively. After theuser enters this remaining information, as described above, computer 17may calculate and then display, on a screen 782, the breakthrough testresults. According to the illustrated embodiment, computer 17 alsodisplays on screen 782 pre-programmed allowable limits for the results,so that the user may verify that the breakthrough test results are incompliance with acceptable limits, before moving on to a patientinfusion. According to some embodiments, system 10 will not allow aninfusion if the results exceed the acceptable limits, and may present ascreen explaining that the results are outside the acceptable limits;the screen may further direct the user to contact the generatorsupplier, for example, to order a replacement generator.

With reference to FIG. 8A, during the aforementioned 60 minute timeperiod, while waiting to complete the breakthrough testing, the user mayperform calibration by selecting item 873 from main menu 470. Uponselection of item 873, computer 17 presents a screen 874, whichinstructs the user to insert a new test vial into an elution vialshield. In addition to placing the vial in the shield, the user,preferably, replaces patient line 305 p with a new patient line, andthen attaches a needle to the end of the new patient line for insertioninto the test vial, in order to collect an eluate sample therefrom.After performing these steps, the user may move to screen 875, wherein aplurality of data entry fields are presented; all or some of the fieldsmay be filled in with pre-programmed default parameters, which the userhas an option to change, if necessary. Once the user confirms entry ofdesired parameters for the calibration, the user may enter a command,via interaction with a subsequent screen 876, to start the calibrationelution.

With reference to FIG. 8B, after computer 17 starts the elution process,a screen 87 informs the user that the calibration elution is in progressand provides an option to abort the elution. As previously described,the system may provide an indication that elution is in progress, forexample, light projector 100 (FIG. 1C) may project a flashing lightsignal during that portion of the elution process when eluate isdiverted from generator 21 through waste line 305 w and into wastebottle 23, and then a steady light signal during that portion of theelution process when activity detector 25 has detected that a prescribeddose rate threshold is reached, for example, 1.0 mCi/sec, and the eluateis being diverted from generator 21, through the new patient line, andinto the test vial. Another type of light signal, for example, the morerapidly flashing light, as previously described, may be projected when apeak bolus of radioactivity is detected in the eluate. Upon completionof the elution process for calibration, computer 17 presents a screen878, which provides an indication of a time lapse since the completionof the elution, in terms of a time since completion of the calibrationelution process. When the user transfers the vial containing the sampleof eluate into the dose calibrator, to measure the activity of thesample, the user may make a note of the time lapse indicated on screen878. With further reference to FIG. 8B, once the user has received theactivity measure from the dose calibrator, the user proceeds to a screen879, which includes data entry fields for the activity measure and thetime, with respect to the completion of elution, at which the dosecalibrator measured the activity of the sample. Once the data is inputby the user, as described above, computer calculates a calibrationcoefficient, or ratio, and presents the ratio on a screen 880. Accordingto FIG. 8B, screen 880 further provides an indication of a desirablerange for the calibration ratio and presents an option for the user toreject the calculated ratio, in which case, the user may instructcomputer 17 to recalculate the ratio.

With reference to FIG. 9A, upon completion of the above-describedquality control tests, the user may select an item 971, from main menu470, in order to direct system 10 to begin a procedure for thegeneration and automatic infusion of a radiopharmaceutical into apatient. As previously described, system 10 infuses the patient with theradiopharmaceutical so that nuclear diagnostic imaging equipment, forexample, a PET scanner, can create images of an organ of the patient,which absorbs the radiopharmaceutical, via detection of radioactiveradiation therefrom. According to FIG. 9A, upon selection of item 971,computer 17 presents a screen 972 which includes a data entry field fora patient identification number. This identification number that isentered by the user is retained by computer 17, in conjunction with thepertinent system parameters associated with the patient's infusion.After the user enters the patient identification number, computer 17directs, per a screen 973, the user to attach a new patient line and topurge the patient line of air. A subsequent screen 974 presented bycomputer 17 includes data entry fields by which the user may establishparameters for the automatic infusion; all or some of the fields may befilled in with pre-programmed default parameters, which the user has anoption to change, if necessary.

With reference to FIG. 9B, if pump 33 does not contain enougheluant/saline for the patient infusion, computer 17 will present awarning, via a screen 901, which includes an option for the user todirect the refilling of pump 33, via a subsequent screen 902. Once pump33 has been filled, computer 17 presents an indication to the user, viaa screen 903. According to some embodiments, if the user does notre-fill pump 33, yet attempts to proceed with an infusion, system 10will preclude the infusion and present another screen, that communicatesto the user that no infusion is possible, if the pump is not refilled,and asking the user to refill the pump, as in screen 901. When pump 33contains a sufficient volume of eluant for the patient infusion,computer 17 presents a screen 975, which is shown in FIG. 9C, and allowsthe user to enter a command for system 10 to start the patient infusion.During the infusion, computer 17 provides the user with an indicationthat the infusion is in process and with a option for the user to abortthe infusion, via a screen 976. As previously described, the system mayprovide an indication that an elution is in progress, for example, lightprojector 100 (FIG. 1C) may project a flashing light signal during thatportion of the elution process when eluate is diverted from generator 21through waste line 305 w and into waste bottle 23, and then a steadylight signal during that portion of the elution process when activitydetector 25 has detected that a prescribed dose rate threshold isreached, for example, 1.0 mCi/sec, and the eluate is being diverted fromgenerator 21, through the new patient line for infusion into thepatient. Another type of light signal, for example, the more rapidlyflashing light, previously described, may be projected when a peak bolusof radioactivity is detected in the eluate. At the completion of theinfusion, a screen 977 is displayed by computer 17 to inform the user ofthe completion of the infusion and a time since the completion. Computer17 also displays a summary of the infusion, per screen 978.

Printer 117 (FIG. 1B) may be activated to print out a hard copy of theinfusion summary, on which the patient identification number andpertinent system parameters are also printed, for reference.Alternatively, or in addition, according to some embodiments, thesummary of the infusion, which includes the patient identificationnumber and pertinent system parameters, may be downloaded onto acomputer readable storage device to be transferred to one or more remotecomputers and/or automatically transferred thereto, via wirelesscommunication or a cable connection. The one or more remote computersmay be included, for example, in a hospital information system, and/oran inventory system, and/or a billing system, and/or in a medicalimaging system. With reference back to FIG. 9A the user may select anitem 995, from main menu 470, in order have system 10 perform dataoperations, such as, archiving a data base of patient infusioninformation and quality control test results, transmitting patientinfusion summary records to USB mass storage devices, and various typesof data filtering, for example, according to date ranges and/or patientidentification numbers, for example, to search for a particular set ofdata and/or to compile a summary report of related sets of data.

Turning now to FIG. 10, an item 981 for computer-facilitated purging ofthe tubing lines of system 10 is shown included in main menu 470. When auser selects item 981, computer 17 guides the user to select either anair purge or a saline purge. The direction provided by computer 17 isnot explicitly laid out herein, for a saline purge, as procedures forsaline purging should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art,with reference to the schematic of infusion circuit 300 shown in FIG.1D. A saline purge of circuit 300 is desired to assure that all the airis removed from circuit 300 when a new generator and/or a new completeor partial tubing set is installed. An air purge of the tubing lines ofcircuit 300 may be performed after removing reservoir 15, by-passinggenerator 21, by connecting tubing line 304 to tubing line 305, andcoupling patient line 305 p to a vial, for example, as is directed bythe computer interface, in screens 983 and 984 shown in FIG. 10. The airpurge is desirable for blowing out the tubing lines, thereby removingall remaining eluant and eluate, prior to installing a new generatorand/or prior to transporting system 10 from one site to another. Ifgenerator 21 is not depleted and will be used in system 10 at the newsite, it is important to by-pass the generator prior to purging thetubing lines of circuit 300 with air, so that air is not blown acrossthe generator, since air through generator 21 may compromise both thefunction and the aseptic nature of generator 21.

According to preferred embodiments, once the user has followed theinstructions presented in screens 983 and 984 and selects to start theair purge, for example, via screen 985, computer 17 directs thecontroller of system 10 to carry out a complete air purge, in which pump33 and divergence valves 35BG and 35WP are automatically controlled. Theautomated air purge preferably includes the following steps, which maybe best understood with reference to tubing circuit 300 in FIG. 1D:pumping any remaining volume of eluant left in pump 33, through lines302, 304, 305 and 305 w, to waste bottle 23; refilling pump 33 with airand pumping the air through lines 302, 304, 305 and 305 w, into wastebottle 23 (lines 304 and 305 have been previously connected directly toone another, in order to by-pass generator 21; if generator 21 isdepleted and will be replaced with a new generator, pumping air throughgenerator 21 may be acceptable); refilling pump 33 with air and thenpumping a portion of the air through lines 302, 304, 305 and 305 p, intothe vial, and then a remaining portion of the air through lines 302,304, 303 and 305 p, into the vial. With reference to FIG. 1D and theprevious description of divergence valves 35BG, 35WP, it should beunderstood how divergence valves 35BG, 35WP are automatically controlledto carry out the above steps.

The purge operations, which are facilitated by selecting item 981 frommain menu 470, may also be accessed via the selection of an item 991 forgenerator setup. When the user selects item 991, computer 17 may presentan option for guidance in removing an old, depleted, generator and a setof tubing lines, prior to installing the new generator, or an option tojust be guided in the installation of the new generator.

In the foregoing detailed description, the invention has been describedwith reference to specific embodiments. However, it may be appreciatedthat various modifications and changes can be made without departingfrom the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

1. A shielding assembly for an infusion system, the shielding assemblybeing mounted within a cabinet structure, and the shielding assemblycomprising: a plurality of compartments having sidewalls providingbarriers to radioactive radiation for the compartments; a correspondingplurality of doors, each door, when open, providing access to thecorresponding compartment via an opening in its sidewall, and, whenclosed, providing further barrier to radioactive radiation for thecorresponding compartment; a first compartment of the plurality ofcompartments enclosed by a first sidewall of the sidewalls and sized tocontain a radioisotope generator of the infusion system, the firstsidewall including a first sidewall opening oriented upward and alignedwith a first upper opening through a shell of the cabinet structure, anupper surface of the shell being located at an elevation with respect toa lowermost portion of the cabinet structure substantially greater thanthe first sidewall opening and the first upper opening.
 2. The shieldingassembly of claim 1, wherein the lowermost portion of the cabinetstructure is at approximately ground level, the first sidewall openingis at an elevation of between approximately 12 inches and approximately24 inches with respect to the lowermost portion of the cabinet.
 3. Theshielding assembly of claim 2, wherein the upper surface of the shell isat an elevation of between approximately 24 inches and 36 inches withrespect to the lowermost portion of the cabinet structure.
 4. Theshielding assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second compartmentof the plurality of compartments enclosed by a second sidewall of thesidewalls and sized to contain a waste bottle of the infusion system,the second sidewall including a second sidewall opening oriented upwardand aligned with a second upper opening through the shell of the cabinetstructure, the second upper opening being an opening in the uppersurface of the shell.
 5. A shielding assembly for an infusion system,the shielding assembly being mounted within a cabinet structure, and theshielding assembly comprising: a first compartment sized to contain aradioisotope generator of the infusion system, the first compartmentbeing enclosed by a first sidewall that forms a barrier to radioactiveradiation, the first sidewall including an opening extendingtherethrough and a lid, the lid mating with the opening to alternatelyenclose the first compartment and provide access to the firstcompartment, via the opening, and the opening being oriented upward andlocated at a first elevation with respect to a lowermost portion of thecabinet structure; a second compartment sized to contain a portion of aninfusion tubing circuit of the infusion system that is downstream of thegenerator, the second compartment being enclosed by a second sidewallthat forms a barrier to radioactive radiation, the second sidewallincluding a base portion and a lid portion, the lid portion mating withthe base portion to alternately enclose the second compartment andprovide access to the second compartment; and a third compartment sizedto contain a waste bottle of the infusion system, the third compartmentbeing enclosed by a third sidewall that forms a barrier to radioactiveradiation, the third sidewall including an opening, extending throughthe third sidewall, and a lid, the lid of the third sidewall mating withthe opening of the third sidewall to alternately enclose the thirdcompartment and provide access to the third compartment, via the openingof the third sidewall, the opening of the third sidewall being orientedupward and located at a second elevation with respect to the lowermostportion of the cabinet structure, and the second elevation being greaterthan the first elevation of the opening of the first sidewall.
 6. Theshielding assembly of claim 5, wherein the opening of the first sidewallis aligned with a first upper opening through a shell of the cabinetstructure and the opening of the third sidewall is aligned with a secondupper opening through the shell of the cabinet structure, the secondupper opening being located at a greater elevation with respect to thelowermost portion of the cabinet structure than the first upper opening.7. The shielding assembly of claim 5, wherein an opening through a shellof the cabinet structure provides access to both the lid of the firstsidewall and to the lid portion of the second sidewall.
 8. The shieldingassembly of claim 5, wherein the lowermost portion of the cabinetstructure is at approximately ground level and the first elevation isbetween approximately 12 inches and approximately 24 inches.
 9. Theshielding assembly of claim 5, wherein the lowermost portion of thecabinet structure is at approximately ground level and the secondelevation is between approximately 24 inches and approximately 36inches.
 10. The shielding assembly of claim 5, further comprising: afourth compartment sized to contain another portion of the infusiontubing circuit of the infusion system downstream from the generator, thefourth compartment being enclosed by a portion of the third sidewall anda door that forms a barrier to radioactive radiation, the door matingwith the portion of the third sidewall to alternately enclose the fourthcompartment and provide access to the fourth compartment; and whereinthe fourth compartment is immediately adjacent to the secondcompartment; the portion of the infusion tubing circuit contained in thesecond compartment includes an eluate line, extending from thegenerator, a patient line, being coupled to the eluate line, and a wasteline, being coupled to the eluate line; and the other portion of theinfusion tubing circuit contained in the fourth compartment includes anextension of the patient line, from the second compartment, and anextension of the waste line, from the second compartment.
 11. Theshielding assembly of claim 10, wherein the fourth compartment extendsapproximately vertically along the portion of the third sidewall, on anopposite side of the third sidewall from the third compartment.
 12. Theshielding assembly of claim 11, wherein the fourth compartment includesa retaining member to hold the extension of the patient line and theextension of the waste line in place within the fourth compartment. 13.The shielding assembly of claim 10, wherein the lid of the thirdsidewall, when mated with opening of the third sidewall, prevents thedoor of the fourth compartment from opening to provide access to thefourth compartment.
 14. The shielding assembly of claim 13, wherein thedoor of the fourth compartment, when mated with the portion of the thirdsidewall, prevents the lid portion of the second sidewall from openingto provide access to the second compartment.
 15. The shielding assemblyof claim 14, wherein the lid portion of the second sidewall, when matedwith the base portion of the second sidewall, prevents the lid of thefirst sidewall from opening to provide access to the first compartment.16. The shielding assembly of claim 10, wherein the door of the fourthcompartment, when mated with the portion of the third sidewall, preventsthe lid portion of the second sidewall from opening to provide access tothe second compartment.
 17. The shielding assembly of claim 5, whereinthe lid portion of the second sidewall, when mated with the base portionof the second sidewall, prevents the lid of the first sidewall fromopening to provide access to the first compartment.
 18. The shieldingassembly of claim 5, wherein the lid of the first sidewall is hinged toopen in an upward direction; and further comprising a latch component,mounted within the cabinet structure, to hold the lid of the firstsidewall in an open position.
 19. The shielding assembly of claim 5,wherein the lid portion of the second sidewall is hinged to open in anupward direction; and further comprising a latch component, mountedwithin the cabinet structure, to hold the lid portion of the secondsidewall in an open position.
 20. A method for setting up an infusionsystem, the method comprising: opening a first door of a shieldingassembly of the infusion system to access a first compartment of theassembly and to allow for a second door of the shielding assembly to beopened, wherein the first door defines a first door edge, the seconddoor defines a second door edge, and the first door edge overlaps thesecond door edge so as to prevent the second door from being opened ifthe first door is not open; and opening the second door, after openingthe first door, to access a second compartment of the shieldingassembly, the second compartment being separate from, and outside of,the first compartment; placing a radioisotope generator into the secondcompartment and connecting the generator to an infusion tubing circuit;placing a portion of the infusion tubing circuit into the firstcompartment; closing the second door to enclose the generator within thesecond compartment; and closing the first door, after closing the seconddoor, to enclose the portion of the infusion tubing circuit within thefirst compartment.
 21. The method of claim 20, further comprisingunlocking and removing an access panel from a shell of a cabinetstructure, which encloses the shielding assembly, to access the firstdoor and the second door of the shielding assembly.
 22. The method ofclaim 20, further comprising: opening a third door, prior to opening thefirst door, to access a third compartment of the shielding assembly andto allow for the first door to be opened; placing another portion of theinfusion tubing circuit into the third compartment; and closing thethird door, after closing the first door, to enclose the other portionof the infusion tubing circuit within the third compartment.
 23. Themethod of claim 22, further comprising unlocking and removing an accesspanel from a shell of a cabinet structure, which encloses the shieldingassembly, to access the first door, the second door and the third doorof the shielding assembly.
 24. The method of claim 22, furthercomprising: opening a fourth door, prior to opening the third door, toaccess a fourth compartment of the shielding assembly and to allow forthe third door to be opened; connecting a waste line of the infusiontubing circuit to a waste bottle; placing the waste bottle into thefourth compartment; and closing the fourth door, after closing the thirddoor, to enclose the waste bottle within the fourth compartment.
 25. Themethod of claim 20, further comprising securing at least one of thefirst and second doors in an open position.
 26. A shielding assembly foran infusion system, the shielding assembly comprising a plurality ofcompartments and providing a radioactive radiation barrier for thecompartments, the assembly further comprising: a first door toalternately enclose and provide access to a first compartment of theplurality of compartments, the first compartment sized to contain aradioisotope generator of the infusion system; and a second door toalternately enclose and provide access to a second compartment of theplurality of compartments, the second compartment being separate from,and outside of, the first compartment, the second compartment beingsized to contain a portion of an infusion tubing circuit of the infusionsystem that is downstream of the generator, and the second door, whenenclosing the second compartment, preventing the first door from openingto provide access to the first compartment, wherein the first doordefines a first door edge, the second door defines a second door edge,and the first door edge overlaps the second door edge so as to preventthe first door from being opened if the second door is not open.
 27. Theshielding assembly of claim 26, further comprising a third door toalternately enclose and provide access to a third compartment of theplurality of compartments, the third compartment sized to containanother portion of the infusion tubing circuit of the infusion systemdownstream from the generator, the third door, when enclosing the thirdcompartment, preventing the second door from opening to provide accessto the second compartment.
 28. The shielding assembly of claim 27,further comprising a fourth door to alternately enclose and provideaccess to a fourth compartment of the plurality of compartments, thefourth compartment being sized to contain a waste bottle of the infusionsystem, the fourth door, when enclosing the fourth compartment,preventing the third door from opening to provide access to the thirdcompartment.
 29. The shielding assembly of claim 28, wherein the thirdcompartment shares a sidewall with the fourth compartment and extendsapproximately vertically along the shared sidewall.
 30. The shieldingassembly of claim 29, wherein the third compartment includes a retainingmember attached to the shared sidewall to hold the other portion of theinfusion tubing circuit in place along the shared sidewall.
 31. Aninfusion system comprising: a cabinet structure including a shelldefining an interior space thereof, the shell including a first opening,a second opening and an access panel, the access panel mating with thesecond opening and being removable therefrom; a lock reversibly engagingthe access panel to secure access to the interior space of the cabinetstructure; an eluant source; a shielding assembly located within theinterior space of the cabinet structure, the shielding assemblyincluding a sidewall defining a plurality of compartments and providinga barrier to radioactive radiation for the compartments, the shieldingassembly further including a corresponding plurality of doors, eachdoor, when open, providing access to the corresponding compartment viaan opening in the sidewall, and, when closed, providing further barrierto radioactive radiation for the corresponding compartment; aradioisotope generator contained within a first compartment of theplurality of compartments of the shielding assembly and being accessiblethrough the second opening of the shell of the cabinet structure, whenthe access panel is unlocked, and when a first door of the plurality ofdoors, which corresponds to the first compartment, is open; an eluantline coupled to the eluant source and to the generator; an eluate linecoupled to the generator; and a patient line coupled to the eluate lineand extending out from the interior space of the cabinet structurethrough the first opening of the shell.
 32. The assembly of claim 31,wherein the first door is hinged to open in an upward direction; andfurther comprising a latch component, mounted within the cabinetstructure, to hold the first door in an open position.
 33. The system ofclaim 31, further comprising: a waste bottle contained within a secondcompartment of the plurality of compartments of the shielding assembly;and a waste line coupled to the eluate line and to the waste bottle;wherein the shell of the cabinet structure further includes a thirdopening; and a second door of the plurality of doors, which correspondsto the second compartment, is aligned with the third opening of theshell, for access thereto, and is located at a higher elevation, withrespect to a lowermost surface of the cabinet structure, than that ofthe second door.
 34. The system of claim 31, further comprising: a wastebottle contained within a second compartment of the plurality ofcompartments of the shielding assembly; and a waste line coupled to theeluate line and to the waste bottle; wherein a second door of theplurality of doors, which corresponds to the second compartment, whenclosed, prevents the first door from opening to provide access to thefirst compartment.
 35. The system of claim 31, wherein: the eluate lineand at least a portion of the patient line are contained in a secondcompartment of the plurality of compartments of the shielding assembly;and a second door of the plurality of doors, which corresponds to thesecond compartment, when closed, prevents the first door from opening toprovide access to the first compartment.
 36. The system of claim 35,wherein the second door is accessible only through the second opening ofthe shell of the cabinet structure, when the access panel is unlocked.37. The system of claim 35, wherein the first door and the second doorare both hinged to open in an upward direction; and further comprisingat least one latch component, mounted within the cabinet structure, tohold the first door and the second door in an open position.